LESSON XVIII
More Verbal Idioms
Siang (相) is often placed before transitive verbs and usually gives the idea of mutual or reciprocal. In some cases it is reflexive. As instances of reciprocal action we have siang-°tang (相打), “to fight with one another.” Siang-mo° (相駡), “to revile one another.” siang-lien (相聯), “to be connected together.” Siang-paung (相幫), “to help one another.”
Khe (開) or Khe-le (開來) is used with many verbs to give the idea of spreading wide open. Thus Than-khe-le (攤開來) means “to unroll a bundle.” Hyih-khe-le (揭開來) means “to open a box.” Fung-khe (分開), “to divide,” san°-khe (散開), “to scatter wide cast.” Tshih-khe (切開) or tshih-khe-le (切開來) means “to cut open, etc.”
Not inclined to do a thing is expressed by the phrase ’veh kau-hyung° (勿高興). Thus ’Veh kau-hyung° chi° (勿高興去), “not inclined to go.”
VOCABULARY
- To follow, kung 跟.
- To tie, vok 縛.
- To tie firmly, vok-lau 縛牢, or vok lau-dzu° 縛牢住.
- To desire, to expect, maung° 望, or po-maung° 把望.
- To bite, °ngau 咬.
- To bark, kyau 叫.
- To blow, tsh 吹.
- To blow out, to extinguish, tsh °iung 吹隱.
- To blow into a blaze or flame, tsh yaung° 吹旺.
- To fly, fi 飛.
- To explain, °ka-seh 解釋.
- To forsake, desert, depart from, li-khe 離開.
- To permit, °hyui 許.
- To allow, nyang° 讓.
- Colour, ngan-suh 顏色.
- Variegated colours, °ng-ngan-loh-suh 五顏六色.
- Thought or meaning, i°-s° 意思.
- A thief, ih kuh zuk 一個賊.
Mien° (面) is used as the classifier for flat objects.
- A drum, ih mien° koo 一面鼓.
- Hope, maung°-deu 望頭.
- Wind, foong 風.
- Wine, °tsieu 酒.
- Rope, ih diau zung, 一條繩 or ih kung zung 一根繩.
Tsung (尊) is the classifier denoting idols or cannon.
- A Buddhist idol, ih tsung veh 一尊佛, or ih tsung boo-sah 一尊菩薩.
- A Taoist god or idol, ih tsung zung-dau° 一尊神道.
- A piece of bread, ih kwhe° men-deu 一塊饅頭.
- A piece of meat, ih khwe° nyok 一塊肉.